William R. Stack

William R. Stack, 82, of Manville, New Jersey passed away on October 1, 2023. Bill was born in New Brunswick in 1941 to William and Olga Stack and grew up in Manville. After graduating from Manville High School, Bill joined the United States Army in 1960 and served as a member of the 214th Army Band, stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, until his discharge in 1962. Bill’s time in the military in Alaska was the source of pride and great memories, of which he spoke fondly until his passing. While on leave from the Army, Bill drove down the shore with a group that included his friend’s younger sister Carole. This chance meeting led to Bill asking Carole out on a date the following night. Carole agreed, but Bill stood her up. Somehow, Bill managed to convince Carole to give him a second chance, and this inauspicious start led to fifty-nine years of truly happy marriage. Although not a traditional romantic, and despite complaining daily about Carole’s endless “organizing,” Bill showed his love for Carole in other ways, such as driving her to and from work daily so she wouldn’t have to walk in the weather, cooking her lunch and dinner daily, and even going so far as to remove the seeds from the grapes in her cut up fruit. Following his discharge from the military, Bill worked at Ethicon for 31 years before retiring in 1993 as manager of Ethicon’s Communications Center. During this time Bill also attended Rutgers University at night, and worked several second and third jobs, including manager at Shoprite and wedding photographer. Bill was a prodigious worker who burned the candle at both ends to provide for his family. Bill’s industriousness continued to his home on which he was constantly working to improve and fortify against inclement weather, to the point of keeping a spare hot water heater (“just in case”) and installing three sump pumps with battery backups. Bill and Carole had one son, Brian Stack of Hillsborough, because as Bill liked to say, he “reached perfection the first time.” Bill was fortunate to gain a daughter-in-law, Beverly Stack, whom he loved as his own, and three grandsons, Connor Stack of Loveland, Colorado; Braden Stack of Hillsborough, and Holden Stack of Hillsborough. After retiring from Ethicon, Bill began his second career watching his three grandsons in 1999. Bill spent the next twenty years shuttling them between school, parks and sports fields, and helped raise them to be the exemplary young men they’ve become. Throughout his life Bill spent countless hours showing and helping Brian and his grandsons do and fix things (lessons which were not always appreciated at the time, but are now treasured memories and the foundation for the self-reliance that they learned directly from him). Brian, Beverly, and the boys are eternally grateful for the lessons and wisdom Bill imparted during the time he spent with them. Bill is also survived by his beloved sister, Barbara Corsilli of Manville, whom he loved, and loved to torment, throughout his life; her sons Christopher Corsilli and Drew Corsilli, and his beloved cousins Drew Persinko and Karen (Persinko) McNee. Bill was predeceased by his cousin Kenneth Persinko. Bill was eternally pragmatic and practical, and lived life without regrets. To that end, Bill wanted no formal services or elaborate funeral upon his passing. His wishes will be honored with a small gathering attended by only his immediate family. Bill used to say that the day you were born somebody opened a book, pointed to a random page, and selected that date as the end. Bill’s time here ended on October 1, but his legacy and memory will live on with Carole, Brian, Beverly and his three grandsons. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ketusky Funeral Home, 1310 Brooks Blvd., Manville, NJ 08835. Services are private.

Tributes

William R. Stack

September 13, 1941 - October 1, 2023